A Lookback: Three Forgotten Chelsea Stars

Stamford Bridge has been home to a host of greats of the game and the supporters are lucky that they were the witness to some of the geniuses that unfolded before their very own eyes. The likes of Jimmy Greaves, Peter Osgood and Charlie Cooke were the heroes of the yesteryears while Gianfranco Zola and Marcel Desailly were the superstars of the Chelsea team before the turn of the century. Then the England boys, John Terry and Frank Lampard took over and along with Didier Drogba and Petr Cech attained success at the Bridge like never before.

These talents made the club and its supporters known all over the globe and the connection that is between a fan and their favourite is unparalleled. They take the player under their wings and give him much affection that the players deserves. Legends is a word used very loosely these days, but the names mentioned above are the true heroes of the game. Managers mould the players and improve them, but ultimately it’s the players who decide the worth of a manager by performing on the field or not.

Some does not have such luck and sometimes just doesn’t have what it takes to keep performing on a high level for a long period of time. Some shine when young, but the game, money and all the glitz gets to them and they fail to keep their feet on the ground. Some have issues with the club or the manager plus there are many ways in which a player can be forgotten by the supporters. Let’s take a look at three such forgotten stars who were once the stars at Stamford Bridge :

1. Samuele Dalla Bona:

The Italian was bought when he was just 17 years of age. At 18, he was the u19 captain of his national side. He was a midfielder with a knack of scoring important goals and was seen as an anytime better option than Frank Lampard those times. In his first year at the club, he won Chelsea’s young player of the year award and in the 2000-01 season, played 32 games for the blues. But after an altercation with the then manager, Claudio Ranieri, he expressed his desire to return to Italy and went to Milan in 03. He was a talented player and the fans have completely forgotten this creative midfielder who could have made an impact if he had stayed at the Bridge.

2. Mikael Forssell:

The striker joined the blues when he was 17 and was highly rated when he was signed by Vialli. He made a lasting impression on the fans, but was sent out on loan to gain some experience. But after that, his career was just moving here and there on loan and trying to impress new suitors for him. He was given a chance under Ranieri too, but was unlikely to dislodge Hasselbaink and Gudjohnsen in the team. He was a blue for seven long years, but is now totally forgotten.

3. Paul Hughes:

The local lad was a Chelsea man throughout and played for the blues in a career spanning six years at the Bridge. He had that spark in him to be a success, but could not do that consistently enough to make the midfield position his own. But after the arrival of Di Matteo, Poyet and Deschamps to the club, he found it hard to make a mark in the team and after a string of loan terms, he was finally sold in 2000.